Overview
Balances from your Outschool Transactions can be used to purchase classes. Any available balance will be automatically applied to eligible classes at the point of purchase.
While you cannot use Outschool balances for first-time membership purchases, you can apply funds and vouchers to renew your membership plan, purchase add-on credits, or cover any additional payment required if your membership credits run out. Please note that ESA, scholarship, and charter funds are subject to the rules of their respective programs and may not be eligible to purchase membership add-on credits.
Outschool Balance
Your Outschool balance on your Transactions page represents Funds and Vouchers. Access to any pre-approved funds from an organization, such as a school, employer, or community organization, will be delegated to an Outschool account (usually your main parent account).
Funds that are provided by sponsoring organizations are subject to the availability of organization funds and may be revoked at any time.
Type | Definition |
Gift Card Funds | Funds purchased through the Outschool site or mobile app and redeemed to an account. |
Third-Party Funds | Funds provided by third-party organizations (E.G., Wallets, Select Scholarships, Education Savings Accounts (ESA), Charter Schools, etc.) |
Referral Vouchers | Incentives earned by participating in Outschool's referral program. |
Promotional Vouchers | Incentives earned through Outschool’s special offers and promotions. |
Credits | Credits received through purchasing an Outschool Membership Plan. |
Using Your Balance for Membership-Related Charges
Families can apply their Outschool Balance—including gift card funds, referral vouchers, and eligible promotional offers—toward the following membership-related charges:
Membership renewals (after the first month)
One-time credit purchases
Overage charges if your membership credit balance is too low
This feature is automatically enabled after your first membership payment. If you prefer to pay only by card, you can turn this feature off anytime on your Transactions page by toggling Other Balance off.
If your balance doesn’t fully cover the charge, your credit card will be used to cover the remaining amount. You’ll see a breakdown of how your payment was applied on your Transactions page and in your Stripe invoice (e.g., “-$10 Stored Balance, -$20 Credit Card”).
Promotions
From time to time, Outschool may offer promotional programs for customers. The Parent Referral Program allows you to earn Referral Vouchers as you promote Outschool to your networks and as your networks start to take classes on Outschool. You may also see ways to apply coupons to your purchases, including Outschool-sponsored promotions and discounts provided by teachers. Referral Vouchers earned under these programs may have specific terms; please consult applicable program rules for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I view my balances?
Your balances can be viewed within your Outschool account, at the top of your Transactions page.
Can I still cover the difference if the class costs more than what I have in my balance?
Yes, you can use your credit card to make any remaining payment not covered by your balance or promotion. We will ask for your credit card information upon purchase, and you can adjust your card on file at any time.
In general, can I combine balances and promotions together during purchases?
Some balances and promotions may have restrictions which will be listed on the Transactions page. If the balance or promotion does not have any restrictions, then they can be combined and will apply so long as they are active on your account.
When making a purchase on Outschool, pricing offers are discounted from your total purchase price in the following order: first, Third-party Funds, and then stored balances (Gift Card Funds and Vouchers). Any remainder needed to cover your purchase will be charged to your credit card.
How do balances work with weekly enrollments and chat groups?
You can sign up for weekly enrollments and chat groups using your available balance. Once you are enrolled in a weekly class your balance will apply to weekly payments until it is depleted, at which point your credit card will be charged. While enrolled in a chat group, your balance cannot apply to monthly payments. After the first charge, subsequent monthly payments will be charged to your credit card.
Why do I need to input my credit card when I have a balance to cover the cost of class?
If you are enrolling in an Outschool class for a learner under the age of 13, you’ll be asked to enter your credit card information for the limited purpose of providing identity verification. In other words, your use of a credit card serves as proof that you are the learner’s parent or guardian. We will not charge your credit card until your purchases exceed the amount of applied pricing offers.